Yet another blog on IT/IP law related topics with a focus on data protection/ privacy (and more)

27.01.2015

FTC issues report and business advice on Internet of Things

In a detailed report on the Internet of Things, released today,
the staff of the Federal Trade Commission recommend a series of
concrete steps that businesses can take to enhance and protect
consumers’ privacy and security, as Americans start to reap the benefits
from a growing world of Internet-connected devices. [...]In addition to the report, the FTC also released a new publication for
businesses containing advice about how to build security into products
connected to the Internet of Things. “Careful Connections: Building Security in the Internet of Things”
encourages companies to implement a risk-based approach and take
advantage of best practices developed by security experts, such as using
strong encryption and proper authentication. [...]
Source:Press release
From the Conclusion:The IoT presents numerous benefits to consumers, and has the potential to change theways that consumers interact with technology in fundamental ways. In the future, the Internet ofThings is likely to meld the virtual and physical worlds together in ways that are currentlydifficult to comprehend. From a security and privacy perspective, the predicted pervasiveintroduction of sensors and devices into currently intimate spaces – such as the home, the car,and with wearables and ingestibles, even the body – poses particular challenges. As physicalobjects in our everyday lives increasingly detect and share observations about us, consumers willlikely continue to want privacy. The Commission staff will continue to enforce laws, educateconsumers and businesses, and engage with consumer advocates, industry, academics, and otherstakeholders involved in the IoT to promote appropriate security and privacy protections. At thesame time, we urge further self-regulatory efforts on IoT, along with enactment of data securityand broad-based privacy legislation.

Über mich

Working at Research Institute https://www.researchinstitute.at. Co-founder and board member of Privacyofficers.at (Association of Austrian DPOs). Former Legal Counsel and Data Protection Officer at Medical University of Vienna. Prior to that, I was working at the Austrian Parliament and as a legal research associate at the University of Hanover (Germany), IRI - Institute for Legal Informatics (Prof. Forgó). Earlier, I was an inhouse lawyer at the Austrian Regulatory Authority for Broadcasting and Telecommunications (RTR-GmbH).
I received my legal education at the University of Vienna (Austria) and University of Oslo (Norway), before attending a postgraduate course in IT-Law at the University of Vienna. I am an alumnus of IVLP ("Data Privacy and Principles" organized by the DoS). My publications are mainly dealing with Austrian and European Union Data Privacy Law. Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/E).